It will be Team Asia vs. Team Rest of the World in the 2025 Reyes Cup. Handout/Cignal-One Sports
MANILA -- Will Team Asia defend its Reyes Cup crown on home soil or will Team Rest of the World dethrone the reigning champions?
Both sides believe they've got what it takes to win the second edition of the Reyes Cup.
Team Asia will be led by Filipino pool icon Francisco "Django" Bustamante, while taking the helm for Team Rest of the World is former US Pool Champion Jeremy Jones.
The pool icons gathered under one roof for the press conference held on Wednesday.
READ: Bustamante, Jones named captains for Reyes Cup 2025
"Siyempre itong Team Asia against the Rest of the World, 50-50 ito eh. Pagandahan nalang sila ng tira. Pero ang kalamangan natin, dito gagawin sa ating bansa. So siyempre yung mga fans natin susuportahan ang Team Asia," Bustamante told reporters.
"Basta yung magandang tira, yun ang mananalo dito sa laban na ito," he added.
As for Team Rest of the World, they're looking to win the Reyes Cup championship.
"We have many combinations, doubles. We got, you know, number one player in the world. We've got a rookie that doesn't seem like a rookie the way he's been playing. And, of course, Eagle Eye, who's always one of the best in these team events," Jones said.
Jones said he's honored to be pitted against Bustamante as team captain, since he considers him as one of his heroes.
Team Asia is composed of Two-time World Pool Champion Carlo Biado, UK Open and Florida Open Champion Aloysius Yapp, 19-year-old Filipino prodigy AJ Manas, Vietnam pool champion Duong Quoc Hoang and Hanoi Open champion Johann Chua.
Biado admits there is pressure since they are playing on home soil, but he says it's something he can manage given his recent wins and their team.
One of his motivations, the 41-year-old said, is his family being able to watch him.
"May pressure kasi iba yung single event sa team event. Tapos ang race is race to five lang. So naka-pressure at itong game na ito. Pero sa akin, dahil sa dami ng experience kung sa mga international event, nandun yung pressure pero kaya ko yung handle. So ang gagawin nalang namin, yung team work talaga importante," he told reporters.
READ: Team Asia to defend Reyes Cup title vs first-ever Team Rest of the World
Bustamate shared the advice he gave his team ahead of the Reyes Cup.
"Basta sabi ko sa kanila. Parang yung regular na tournament lang wag silang ma-pressure. Alam mo naman ito kasi ang nakataya dito karangalan. So sabi ko sa kanila, basta relax lang kayo. Basta kung ano yung ginagawa niyo sa tournament, yun lang gawin niyo ito kay ma-pressure. At lahat naman ng team Asia, nakasuporta kami lahat sa isa't-isa," he said.
Team Rest of the World has top-ranked European pool player Moritz Neuhausen, World No. 1 Feder Gorst, former US Open Pool Champion Jayson Shaw, Skylar Woodward and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz.
Gorst said going up against Team Asia will be tough, but he likes their team's chances.
"It's going be strong no matter who plays there because it's the best players from the continent. We have a lot of respect for them, but respect doesn't win games," he told reporters.
"I think the chances of our team is really good. Hopefully we can show our best game, and even if we don't, I think, I think we can still win," Gorst added.
The World No. 1 player believes Team Rest of the World can finally claim the crown.
"It's a different team this year, and like Jayson [Shaw] said in the press conference, we have more time to get ready this year. We actually had good practice sessions together," he shared of the team's chemistry.
"We know each other's game so well to where we can help each other, you know, find weaknesses that can be tweaked and actually turn into strength. So I think we'll do well this year," Gorst said.
HEARING THE PH CROWD
While they do not know what to expect, Team Rest of the World said it is looking forward to hearing from the Filipino fans and all those attending the Reyes Cup.
"I do believe that the fans will come out in big numbers. And I'm really hoping that the first day is going to feel like a Mosconi Cup because then the pressure will be really on," Shaw said.
"I feel like last year, Team Asia, they were a little bit more relaxed in the first couple of days due to maybe not as much of the crowd really getting involved like a Mosconi. But I feel this year there'll be more noise and I feel like they will still play good but they'll feel a little bit more pressure than they did last year," he explained.
Shaw believes more fan involvement will give more color and excitement to the games.
"I feel like if the fans get more involved in the event, then it's going to be better for everyone involved in the full event. More viewers, more people tuning in," he said.
"If someone like boos you or kind of makes you want to do better, you know, pumps you up for the next shot. So yeah, make as much noise as possible, that's when you see the best of the players," Shaw added.
READ: Carlo Biado, Feder Gorst renew rivalry as team captains in Reyes Cup
As for Gorst, he said he's banking on his prior experience playing on world stages.
"We all have experience in playing against the big crowd, you know, being rowdy, and that's what we want, that's what we enjoy. That's what makes the tournament different," he said.
Gorst said it's "special" coming back to Southeast Asia, specifically the Philippines, where it his first time to visit.
"I feel very good here because I like, I like the food, I like the people, I like the fans. I really like playing against, in front of the crowd that really knows and have the knowledge about pool, so it's always, it's always good," he said.
The second edition of the Reyes Cup will run from October 16 to 19 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.